Football – France – Ligue 1
Tuesday 23rd September 2014 – Kickoff: 1900hrs
Following a run of three straight defeats, hosts Reims will go in search of a third successive Ligue 1 win tonight but will face stiff competition in the shape of Marseille who currently sit top of the division.
Reims started their campaign with a very creditable 2-2 draw with PSG, but then suffered three defeats on the trot to St Etienne 1-3 away, a 0-2 home loss to Caen and then a 2-4 loss away at Lens. However, back to-back wins over Toulouse and Lorient respectively will give them a much-needed boost ahead of tonight’s clash.
Reims are not known though for making their Stade Auguste-Delaune a fortress in recent times as they’ve registered just two league wins from their last nine on home turf, while their overall home record so far stands at 1-1-1 4/4.
Visitors Marseille sit on top of Ligue 1 just ahead of rivals Bordeaux and St Etienne on goal difference, thanks to a run of four wins on the bounce which has lifted them to the top of the division conceding just one goal in their last four.
Wins over Nice 4-0 and Rennes 3-0 along with wins on the road at Guingamp 1-0 and Evian TG 3-1 have all been solid victories, while their away record is also a very good 2-1-0 7/4 with striker Gignac scoring 6 goals so far (with 4 of them being first goalscorer).
Marseille actually hold a pretty tight away record in recent times too having gone eight matches without defeat, scoring in each of them and they’ll be looking for more goals tonight I daresay.
Reims still seem to be unsure of themselves in these first few weeks of the Ligue 1 season while Marseille have hit their straps and should be keen to maintain top spot with a win here tonight too. But I recommend backing the visitors and giving the quarter ball as last time at Reims it ended in a 1-1 draw – if this ends a draw we lose just half our stake, but Marseille might edge this one perhaps 1-0.
Pick: Marseille AH-0.25 @ 1.75 Ladbrokes
